NCJ Number
129516
Journal
Journal of the Royal Society of Health Volume: 110 Issue: 6 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 208-212
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
England's Metropolitan Police Force is totally committed to the two main principles of the Children Act 1989: the welfare of the child is paramount; and parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing of their children.
Abstract
It is equally committed to jointly conducting investigations into allegations of child abuse with representatives of the Social Services. Section 46 allows emergency action; the police officer can take into police protection children who have been abandoned, found to be in immediate danger, or suffering from severe neglect by removing them to suitable accommodation or can prevent removal from a hospital or other accommodation. Section 47 of the Act permits appointment of an officer to investigate. Other provisions of the Act pertain to the following: emergency protection orders which allow the child to be cared for outside the home, an assessment order, search warrants as a means to tackle barriers to access to a child, checks on persons providing alternative care to children, the rights of refuges for children who have run away, measures to prevent the child from becoming a criminal, family courts, video recorded evidence, the use of family centers, and care and supervision orders. The Children Act can realize its objectives only with the full support of those directly involved in its implementation.